TOLEDO – Mark Shepherd, a 72-year-old resident of Kenton, Ohio, has pleaded guilty to violating the Clean Water Act by dumping approximately 7,000 gallons of hazardous wastewater into the Scioto River near Kenton. The toxic discharge, originating from Shepherd’s facilities—Cessna Transport Inc. and A.G. Bradley Inc.—resulted in a massive fish kill.
Court documents reveal that on April 17, 2021, Shepherd negligently discharged the substance containing ammonia into the river without a permit or in violation of an existing permit. The Ohio Department of Natural Resources estimated that the spill killed 43,094 fish, including black bass and flathead catfish, with an estimated value of $22,508.60.
U.S. Attorney Rebecca C. Lutzko for the Northern District of Ohio emphasized the severity of Shepherd’s actions: ‘The Scioto River is a valuable community resource, and anyone caught illegally discharging substances into our waterways will face prosecution.’
The fish kill was initially reported by a local fisherman in Hardin County, an area popular for recreational fishing. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency noted that the water quality near the incident site had previously been classified as ‘Generally High-Quality Water’.
Special Agent in Charge Tyler Amon of EPA’s Criminal Investigative Division in Ohio commented on the environmental impact: ‘This guilty plea underscores our commitment to protecting the environment and ensuring accountability for those who violate environmental laws.’
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost echoed this sentiment, stating that anyone polluting Ohio’s natural resources would be held accountable. Sentencing for Shepherd is scheduled for August 12, 2024.
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Key Facts
- State: Ohio
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|Environmental Law Violation
- Source: Official Source ↗
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